Musician Richard Clayderman plays piano for tortoises at London Zoo

World-renowned pianist Richard Clayderman holds a 'private concert' at London
Zoo to serenade endangered giant tortoises, in an effort to encourage them
to mate.

Clayderman, 59, whose track "Ballade Pour Adeline" is one of the biggest selling recordings of all time, played the famous tune on a grand piano transported to the zoo's giant tortoise enclosure.

Himself an animal-lover, Clayderman said he jumped at the chance to perform for the endangered species.

The zoo's Galapagos tortoises - 70-year-old Dirk and his three female companions, Dolores, 13, and Dolly and Polly, both 17 - looked suitably impressed with their private recital, and the hope is the romantic music may make them more amorous.

Amongst the romantic pieces that Clayderman performed were themes from West Side Story and Romeo and Juliet.

Clayderman is in the UK this week for various TV appearances, having just announced the release of "Romantique", his first major album for over a decade.